Audi A5 Sedan First Drive Review: Upsized Luxury
Looking like offspring of the previous generation A4 Sedan and the A5 Sportback, the new A5 Sedan is conceptually confusing - but that doesn’t discount its brilliance.
Some bigwig at Audi had the brilliant idea that all ICE models will have odd numbers in the line-up (like this A5), while all EV models would have even numbers. And then this decision was upended later with the launch of the new A6, where it was decided that both ICE and EV models can use the same models after all, albeit the latter having the ‘e-tron’ tag.
This is the short preamble of why we now have the A5 Sedan, which was born from the initial ‘odd even’ idea. It replaces the Audi A4 Sedan and essentially is the successor to the previous A5 Sportback. With the new arrangement, I am not sure how things will change again but let’s assume the status quo at the moment.
The A5 Sedan has a tailgate like the old Sportback, but it looks more like a sedan than a swoopy four door coupe overall. It looks rounder and more bulbous than before, perhaps due to how the hood is flushed with the front bumper in what Audi calls a ‘soft nose’. I’m not sure if any sultry innuendo is intended, but the bonnet now has ‘spoon cuts’ on its surface - as opposed to a power dome. The overall effect is a toned down fascia that initially looks a little too delicate. But then from the side, the wheel arch blisters are reminiscent of the Audi Ur-quattro. Wrapping up the back is a 3D light strip that looks a tad generic.
The first car to be sold in Singapore built on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) platform, it’s meant to be a ‘swansong’ of sorts to ICE models. Meaning, Audi has thrown all of its resources and know-how to build what it thinks is the best ICE model ever, as it was intended to be its last.
The PPC allows the integration of a large lithium-ion battery, which paves the way for a PHEV model. The A5 Sedan on test here, however, isn’t even a mild-hybrid (MHEV) model - but we think this is for the better. The vast majority of MHEV models we’ve tried aren’t appreciably more efficient than their pure ICE counterparts, if at all.
At 4,829 mm in length, the A5 Sedan is longer than its predecessors by 67 mm. That means a wheelbase of 2,892 mm - for comparison sake, the Mercedes C-Class measures in at 2,861 mm and the BMW 3-Series at 2,851 mm. While not near the BMW 5 Series (2,995 mm) or the Mercedes E-Class (2,961 mm), it sits in between the two segments, while being priced like the C/3er. This would be appealing to those who are after interior space, and it really shows in the back seats. It’s truly generous.
The interior introduces the curved display which takes centre stage on the dashboard. On the front passenger side, there is a black panel that can be optioned with a screen. Most key functions have been centralised into a ‘smart door panel’ on the driver’s side, reminding me of the drop-down control panel of the S190 Lexus GS. It’s not a bad idea, but the panel feels a tad cheap to use.
The practicality of the A5 Sedan on the inside dovetails well with its front-wheel drive drivetrain, which puts out 204 hp and 340 Nm. Again, in its segment, these figures are pretty impressive and do stand out where its competitors all typically sit below 200 hp at this price point.
First impressions behind the wheel are very good. The 7-speed S tronic gearbox might be the smoothest one I’ve tried in any Audi to date; it is so well-calibrated that any hesitation or jerks is a thing of the past. The noise levels are also extremely low; the 2.0-turbo engine is well-insulated and hardly intrudes into the cabin at all, even when pushed.
Comfort is the order of the day in the A5 Sedan and the whole experience is just very serene and relaxed. You can really tell that Audi went over and above with the PPC to create something really remarkable. I can’t wait to go for a longer test drive to see how it performs.
There are two A5 trims available - advanced (the one tested here) and edition one. The latter will include goodies like the S-line exterior and interior, S Sport suspension, 19-inch Audi Sport wheels, Bang & Olufsen Premium sound system, head-up display and MMI experience pro. All for $15k more, which seems like good value.
Naming kerfuffle aside, the A5 Sedan is going to take some beating against its traditional rivals, and even those cross-shopping from the 5-Series or E-Class. It offers upsized luxury at a lower price - surely a winning formula for Singaporeans?
Photos by James Wong
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